A MECHANICAL DAMPED CONNECTION ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRICAL MOTORS
The present invention is related to a connection assembly that attenuates the noise and vibration generated during the operation of the electrical motors of the domestic appliances, in particular of the main pumping motors in the dish washing machines.
The circulation pump motor is one of the major sources of noise in the dish washers. Certain studies directed towards the dampening of noise and vibration generated by the pump-motor assembly in the dishwasher are known.
In a known embodiment, the rear motor cover is connected to a plastic holder at its center and forms a bearing for an elastic ring. The elastic ring is fit onto a suspension clasp whereas the suspension clasp (hanger sheet iron) connects the motor assembly with the concrete clasp (rear travers). The plastic holder is centred to the motor cover from the hub, and fixed by riveting. The most important disadvantage of this model is that a rigid, i.e. riveted connection is employed for the assembly that generates vibration. A high amount of low frequency vibration that cannot be isolated, may cause noises at unexpected levels over the suspension clasp and the concrete clasp (rear travers) which is a broad, metallic surface with a thin cross section. The vibration dampening characteristic of the elastic ring is inadequate; there is also the risk of resonance at the component to which the motor assembly is connected (rear travers).
In another study, the motor assembly is again connected to the concrete clasp (rear travers) having a wide metallic surface with a thin cross-section, by means of a suspension clasp.
The motor is placed on elastic studs (dowels) positioned on the suspension clasp which in turn is fastened to the rear travers in an embedded manner. The
transmission of a high amount of low frequency vibration that cannot be isolated, to the said travers by means of the suspension clasp may cause noises at unexpected levels.
The elastic studs, serving as a kind of solid pad on which the motor-pump assembly is placed, can dampen the vibration generated by the electrical motor, at a low level.
The efficiency of this practice is reduced by trying to dampen the vibration at a distance from the rotational axis of the rotor.
Furthermore, most of the known practices are based on the principle of placing the motor assembly on an elastic padding or by suspending it by means of an elastic element. In these practices, the common disadvantage is fastening the motor cover to other elements in a rigid manner, using riveting, screws or the like, before the vibration dampening phase, and performing the dampening procedure at a place other than the center of the rotor bearing axis.
The primary object of this invention is to realize a connection assembly that will provide the connection of the pump-motor assembly by dampening the vibrations generated by the electrical motor, at the rotational axis of the rotor, by using a suitable elastic component.
Another important aim of the present invention is to attain a solution that does not require a rigid connection using, screws or the like, before the dampening phase.
Another aim of the present invention is to provide an easy mounting process for the said connection assembly, with a little mounting labour and effort.
Providing the evacuation of the water in the (pipe-type) flow through heater when it is not used, by fastening the motor-pump group at a certain angle, due to the form of the (hanger sheet) suspension clasp in the connection assembly, and minimizing the partially dead water volume in the water circulation system, is a subsidiary object of the present invention.
The connection assembly realized in order to attain the above mentioned aims and objects of the invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:
Figure 1, is the general exploded view of the elements of the connection assembly.
Figure 2a, is the front view of the dampening elastic ring. Figure 2b, is the cross section view of the dampening elastic ring in FigJa, taken along the line A-A. Figure 3a, is the bottom and side view of the motor suspension clasp,
Figure 3b, is the section view of the suspension clasp in Fig 3a, taken along the line A-A.
Figure 4-is the illustration of the connection between the elastic disc and the motor suspension clasp, on the section view in Fig. 2b. Figure 5, is the general view of the motor connection cover from the bottom and the top.
Figure 6, shows the connection assembly as mounted on the rear motor cover.
Figure 7, shows in cross-section the connection assembly as mounted on the rear motor cover.
Figure 8a and 8b, show the alternative elastic discs.
The connecting assembly consists of three basic components, namely, an elastic dampening disc (13), a motor suspension clasp (5) and a motor connection cover (2).
The motor-pump assembly is connected by fastening the center of the motor rear cover to the cabinet frame and the pump outlet to the pump tank by an elastic pipe with feeder and thus suspending the assembly from two points.
The dampening elastic disc(13) prevents the formation of a "vibration path" by providing isolation between the motor and the other components, due to its specific form.
There is a hole (17) at the center of the elastic disc (13) which provides its engagement to the motor rear cover hub (22).
The body of the disc is partially perforated by the holes (14) opened circumferentially around the hole (17), traversing all through the body.
The geometry of these holes (14) which are opened in plurality and relatively close to each other, allows flat and resilient ribs (15) to be formed between them. These ribs play an important role in the isolation of the motor vibrations transmitted from the cover hub (22) to the inner walls (18) of the elastic disc; which in turn prevents the transmission of the vibration to the dishwasher outer cabinet by means of the suspension clasp (5). (Please see figures 1, 2a, 2b).
These holes (14) on the disc body also contribute the cooling of the motor by allowing the passage of air.
A peripheral recess (16) with an L-shaped profile is provided outside the elastic disc, in order to enable it to be fitted into the circular opening (10) in the suspension clasp. The circular border (11) of the suspension clasp is engaged into this recess (16). The base, i.e. the side that faces the rear cover (19) of the elastic disc has a slightly conic structure, that ascends from the center outwards. When the rear cover (21) and the suspension clasp (5) approach to each other by
movements in the direction of the rotor axis, the circular edge (11) pusher the conic outer part (19) of the elastic disc that does not contact with the rear cover and therefore the vibrations in axial direction are dampened also in this section (Figures 2b, 3a, 3b, 4).
In the preferred arrangement, the row of holes (14) is positioned around the central hole of the disc (17) circumferentially. Although the ribs, i.e. the partitions separating the holes are arranged radically(Fig. 2a), the elastic disk may be in other alternative forms. For instance, there may be more than one rows (20) of holes around the central hole. Furthermore, the flexible partitions (15) separating the holes, may not be arranged radially, but in the forms of various curves (such as are, helical, cycloid curves and the derivatives thereof, etc.) to form the "rib structure (Fig. 8b). In these alternatives, the common characteristic is the fact that the holes transpierce the body as those in the preferred arrangement.
The elastic disc (13) engaged into the rear cover hub (22) performs the damping at the rotor drive shaft (9) (fig. 7).
Undesired situations such as loosening and dismounting (falling off) are prevented by avoiding the use of screws, rivets and other rigid fastening elements before the damping stage.
The main function of the suspension clasp (5) comprising a circular opening into which the elastic disc (13) can be fitted, is to keep the motor-pump assembly at a suspended manner in the machine outer body (cabinet) (Figures
1,6). The specific form of the clasp enables it to support the motor-pump assembly safely.
Although there are no limitations for the points of fixation on the motor cabinet, the suspension clasp (5) is secured on a strong (constructive) structural element which has been formed by bending. This structural element is preferably
one of the struts (1) forming the cabinet frame (FigJ). The problems to be created by connecting the motor assembly to concrete weight clasp (rear traverse) which itself can be an additional source of noise or to a broad surface with a thin cross section that may transmit the noise to other structural elements, have thus been eliminated.
Another function of the suspension clasp is to hold the motor-pump assembly in a downwards inclined position so that the rotor drive shaft (9) is at a certain angle with the horizontal plane. This position allows the dead water volume in the flow-through type heater and the water circulation system to be minimized in other words, to provide that no water remains in the flow-through heater when it is not used.
The suspension clasp (5) provides the said inclination due to the angular sagging form (6) around the circular opening (10) (Fig. 3a and 3b). The angle of inclination (Y°) is approximately in the range of 2-5°, preferably is 3°.
The inclination of the motor-pump assembly axis, can also be provided by bending and/or twisting the suspension clasp, instead of using the angular sagging form (6).
As the suspension clasp is fixed to only one (1) of the cabinet frames, it is required to be strong enough to endure bending and twisting. This is provided by certain configuration arrangements, one of which being the characteristic of the suspension clasp that its inner and outer borders (12) are skirted. Additionally, some longitudinal reinforcing thrusts (feder) (8) are provided at the sections close to its lateral sides.
With these features, the suspension clasp (5) allows the motor assembly to be placed in the machine in a three-dimensional and ergonomical way. As it has a mechanical structure reinforced by the given forms and as it is fastened to a
mechanical structural element, the motor assembly axis (9) can easily be held in the desired position.
A window (7) adjacent to the circular opening (10) contributes the cooling of the motor by facilitating the air passage. Certain forms (24,25) on the suspension clasp (5) help to find its location on the cabinet frame (1) during the mounting process.
The elastic disc (13), the motor suspension clasp (5) and the motor rear cover (21) are held together by means of the motor connecting cover (2). This cover which has a circular geometry, in conformity with the other elements, is made of a material derived from plastics and its end is provided with tongs (3) that engage to a notch (a claw) (23) on the motor rear cover. These tongs (3) provide the locking in order to keep other connecting elements (5J3) together by being interposed and fitted onto the inner notch (23) of the cover hub (22). Since such a connection can be made more easily and in a shorter time, it minimizes the labour for mounting.
As such rigid fastening elements as screws are not used, unwanted cases of loosening and dismounting have been avoided.
There are cooling openings (4) allowing air passage from the holes (14) on the disc, at the bottom of the cover (FigJ).
Reference numbers of the components in the drawings:
I . Cabinet frame strut 2. Motor connection cover
3. Motor connection tongs
4. Motor connection cooling openings
5. Suspension clasp
6. Angular sagging form 7. Cooling window
8. Suspension clasp reinforcing thrusts
9. Rotor (drive) shaft axis
10. Circular opening
I I . Suspension clasp circular flange (shirt) 12. Suspension clasp borders
13. Damping elastic disc
14. Elastic dies body holes
15. Partition walls (ribs)
16. Recess with L-shaped profile 17. Elastic disc central hole
18. Elastic disc inner wall
19. Elastic disc bottom
20. Row of holes
21. Motor rear cover 22. Motor rear cover hub
23. Inner step
24. 25. Forms facilitating mounting